BIOCOMPATIBLE THERMOPLASTIC POLY(ESTER URETHANE)S WITH NOVEL SOFT SEGMENTS

1which are all semicrystalline. Although these polyester prepolymers offer some elegant properties, they also exhibit drawbacks such as hydrophobicity, low resiliency, swelling and deformation upon degradation, and lower degradation rates. By using amorphous polyester prepolymers, a more hydrophilic poly(ester urethane) with higher resiliency, faster degradation rates, and easier processability could be prepared. Amorphous materials are also transparent, which is required for applications such as replacements for ocular tissue. 2-5 Here, we present a new class of poly(ester urethane)s with a wide range of mechanical and thermal properties. The prepolymers are synthesized using chemistry developed in our laboratory. Experimental